Med BioGene Confirms High Accuracy Rate for LymphExpress Dx

04-07-2008

Accuracy rate over 90%

LymphExpress DxTM v.1.0 is a gene expression-based array being developed to diagnose the most common subtypes of lymphoma, together representing approximately 90% of all Non-Hodgkin B-cell and Hodgkin lymphomas. In the study, LymphExpress DxTM v.1.0 achieved a concordance rate of 88% between the conventional pathological diagnosis and that determined by LymphExpress DxTM v.1.0. The median sensitivity was 98% and the median specificity was 85%. The overall accuracy rate of the array is estimated to be over 90% given that conventional pathological diagnoses have an average error rate across all lymphoma subtypes of greater than 15%. The MBI study involved 153 tumour samples from patients with clinically diagnosed lymphoma.

Accurate diagnosis of lymphoma is essential for determining prognosis and the best treatment options, but this presents a clinical challenge as pathologists may disagree regarding diagnosis of certain subtypes in as many as 47% of the cases. The experience and skill of the pathologist is of particular importance for accurate diagnoses. Conventional diagnosis can be time consuming and requires the interpretation of results from a battery of complex tests to render a diagnosis of the particular lymphoma subtype. Molecular diagnostic tools, such as LymphExpress DxTM, are expected to simplify and expedite the process while providing more accurate diagnoses.

MBI is currently developing a second generation prototype, LymphExpress DxTM v.2.0. This array is being developed to diagnose additional subtypes of lymphoma, in total representing approximately 98% of all Non-Hodgkin B-cell and Hodgkin lymphomas.

"These results further validate our proprietary approach to diagnosing lymphoma by analyzing the gene expression patterns of unique biomarker panels," said Dr. Bradley W. McLean, MBI's Chief Scientific Officer. "We have advanced our technology and worked with an expanded patient population to refine our gene expression signatures specific to lymphoma and have enhanced our statistical methods for choosing optimal biomarkers. These results give us greater confidence that our biomarkers will yield clinically-robust results."

About Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system and is comprised of more than 42 disease subtypes. Lymphoma is divided into two major categories: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, representing 88% of all lymphomas, and Hodgkin lymphoma, representing approximately 12% of all lymphomas. 85% of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas arise from B-cell malignancies and represent the most lethal lymphoma subtypes. In the United States, lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer, afflicting approximately 74,000, and killing approximately 20,500, people each year. Currently, approximately 40% of persons diagnosed with B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma will die within five years. Diagnosis and treatment of patients with lymphoma costs approximately $4.6 billion per year in the United States alone, with an average per patient expenditure of $21,500 in the first year after diagnosis.

About Med BioGene

MBI is a life science company focused on the development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical laboratory diagnostic tests for cancer and cardiovascular disease. MBI develops these tests by identifying the genes, known as "biomarkers," which indicate the presence of disease. The development of these tests is the first step towards personalized medicine and will replace the conventional "one drug fits all" approach to disease management.

Certain statements in this news release contain forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, that with respect to future profits, future product revenues, future operations and plans, the use of proceeds from financings, the timing of studies or clinical trials and the completion date for studies or clinical trials and the prospects for negotiating partnerships or collaborations and their timing. This forward-looking information is only a prediction based upon MBI's current expectations, and actual events or results may differ materially. MBI may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and is based upon uncertain assumptions that could cause MBI's actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date of this news release. MBI's forward-looking information does not reflect the potential impact of any future partnerships, collaborations, acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments that MBI may make. All forward-looking information is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement and MBI undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this news release, other than as required by applicable law.
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For more information, please contact
Med BioGene Inc.
Erinn B. Broshko
Chief Executive Officer
(604) 306-4969
Email: ebroshko@medbiogene.com
Website: www.medbiogene.com

or

The Howard Group Inc.
Investor Relations
1-888-221-0915
Email: info@howardgroupinc.com
Website: www.howardgroupinc.com

or

Peterson Capital
Investor Relations
(604) 684-2883
Email: rick@rickpeterson.ca
Website: www.petersoncapital.ca